The VoIP FAQ (voice over IP)
Here is a VoIP FAQ that hopefully will help you out with any issues
The word VoIP stands for voice over IP and allows for telephone calls to be made using a broadband connection instead of a traditional analog copper wire like BT’s. In a nutshell, you are making telephone calls using the internet and your broadband.
Up to 50% lower call cost for landline, mobile and international calls.Reduced rates for line rental or service charge. Inter-connectivity between all phones for call transfers and more Inexpensive hardware and lower upfront costs Free, unlimited technical support and maintenance VOIP systems can be easily scaled up or down based on requirements
Based on the majority of our customers, we typically expect most people to save between 40% and 50% on calls, but especially if the bulk of calls are made to mobile numbers and international numbers.
Our VOIP telephone systems utilize an existing broadband connection at your office or home to make and receive calls. Bypassing BT’s traditional network, you will have access to lower rates for calls to landline numbers, mobile numbers, and international numbers. Similarly, because no physical phone line is taken up, our line rental or service charge costs are much lower than BT’s, starting from £5.00 per month (ex VAT). Please see our call rate sheet for example costs and charges.
There is no difference in call quality thanks to VOIP’s HD Call technology built right into the service. We use VOIP here at the alphaTALK office – please give us a call on freephone 0800 093 2193 to hear the quality for yourself. Additionally, calls on our VOIP platform are superior to Skype. Our VOIP calls sound identical to those provided by traditional analogue phone line from the likes of BT.
You will be able to call any phone number around the world. As a security precaution, we can also block calls to certain number types by default such as premium types and international destinations. This can be applied on a group-wide basis or per user basis.
To be able to use VOIP, we will need to supply you with VOIP compatible telephones. We provide VOIP handsets from the manufacturer Yealink.
We have a variety of VOIP handsets to suit different budgets and needs; from basic desk phones all the way to cordless handsets with color displays. All VOIP handsets supplied by us come pre-configured, ready to simply plug and play.
These are just some of our most popular VOIP features we can provide with our service:
A choice of any UK 01 or 02 area telephone number Or a choice of 0800 and 0845 telephone numbers. Interconnectivity between all of your VOIP phones Call transfers, Hold music, Auto Attendant menus and welcome messages Voicemail Conference calls Call recording Call forwarding Hunt groups and call management And much more.
For our standard VOIP phone service, there is a minimum term of just 12 months on the first handset per system. All subsequent handsets have a minimum term of just 3 months, so you can add or remove users with ease based on demands of the business. For our VOIP and broadband package, there is a minimum term of 24 months on the first handset. Again, all subsequent handsets thereafter have a minimum term of just 3 months.
Anybody will be able to call you via your VoIP telephone system. The beauty of VoIP is that it is indistinguishable from a traditional phone system with your caller none the wiser. Calls from certain numbers or number types can also be blocked from reaching you, for example, nuisance callers.
Our VoIP phones are truly plugged and play – all you have to do is plug them into your broadband router with the supplied network lead and you will have immediate access to cheaper calls and line rental. Nothing else needs to be installed for our VOIP phones to work. You will need a broadband connection for VOIP.
You can choose from any UK local area code beginning with 01 or 02, even if you are not based in the particular city or region. For example, your office may be located in Manchester but you wish to use a London 0207 or 0208 number for marketing purposes. We can also provide 0800 and 0845 numbers upon request. These can be used as primary phone numbers or as secondary phone numbers, showing up on caller display.
Our VOIP phone system comes with full, unlimited technical support. Should you run into any issues, simply contact a member of the alphaTALK team via 0800 093 2193 or 0121 633 5200 for assistance.
We can migrate or port your existing telephone number to our VOIP platform to take advantage of cheaper calls and lower line rental/service charge costs. Please discuss this request with a member of alphaTALK team.